Review: Smashbox Halo Hydrating Perfecting Powder

On a recent trip to Nordstroms, I decided to take a stroll by the beauty counter and check out some of the new makeup products out there. The Smashbox Display caught my eye and I decided to see what the line had to offer. My history with Smashbox is pretty limited and the only product I’ve tried is the Photo Finish Primer. Needless to say, me and Smashbox’s beloved primer didn’t hit it off. The Smashbox makeup artist proceeded to tell me about some of the foundations from the line. The Halo Hydrating Perfecting Powder perked my interest when I heard about all the benefits the products.

Smashbox Halo Hydrating Perfecting Powder open.

What Smashbox Claims

Smashbox describes the product as an advanced formulation of pure gold, 48 minerals, 11 amino acids and a powerful peptide that delivers powerful antiaging benefits while the patented hydration system continuously revitalizes skin without accentuating lines and wrinkles.

Clinical studies show:
-After 10 minutes there is a 33% decrease in the appearance of wrinkles around the eyes.
-After six weeks of use, there is a 67% decrease in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

What I Love

I personally love this product and enjoy wearing it everyday. Having used mineral makeup in the past I’m used to the whole messy process of dispensing and applying the minerals. I love the fact that the Halo Hydrating Perfecting Powder is freshly ground by twisting the top to dispense the amount of the product you need. This seems much more sanitary me and produces less of a mess then other mineral makeup products on the market. Halo gives light to medium coverage and is buildable.

I’m thrilled that it hasn’t caused breakouts and I’ve been using it for over a month. In addition, it just feels comfortable on my skin. I don’t feel like I’m wearing heavy makeup or like I’m wearing makeup at all for that matter. I’ve noticed an overall improvement in my skin’s texture and a dramatic improvement in my skin’s sensitivity, breakouts and irritation since I started using the Halo Hydrating Perfecting Powder. The packaging consists of a mirror, container with mineral grinder and an additional mini kabuki. The packaging is phenomenal in my opinion and it’s generous of them to include a little mini kabuki. I can’t evaluate the mini kabuki since I used my foundation go-to brush to apply the powder.

Me wearing Smashbox’s Halo Hydrating Perfecting Powder.

What I Don’t Love

The price on the Halo Hydrating Perfecting Powder is pretty steep in my opinion and it costs $59 for .75 oz. That being said, the Halo Perfecting Powder is 3 times the size of it’s competition, Bare Minerals (sold in .2 oz). When you do the math, Smashbox is certainly giving you more value for the money. I’ve read online that some people have been able to buy the product on Ebay for a fraction of the price. If I finish the product and still love it like I do now, I’ll be looking into that.

While I was able to find a shade that suits my skin tone (I used the lightest shade called Fair), I did feel the line had limited color options. I’d imagine quite a few people won’t be able to find a shade that works for them. Another minor thing that bothers me is you can’t see how much product is left in the container which means there’s potential for one day running out of the product while in the middle of doing your makeup. All things considered, that’s a minor irritation and certainly is outweighed by the positives of this fabulous product. While this was certainly a makeup splurge for me, I don’t regret it and can honestly say this product may be holy grail for me.

Ratings:

Packaging: 5 out of 5— The absolutely best packaging for a mineral powder!

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About Jennifer Lynn

Jennifer Lynn is a working mom that lives in sunny Florida with her husband and daughter. When she’s not busy taking care of the little one or handling customer accounts, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, cooking and catching up on the latest beauty trends. As a Type 1 Diabetic diagnosed at the age of 17, she wears an insulin pump and does her best to keep her blood sugars in check. She studied at the University of Central Florida and graduated in 2011 with a degree in Broadcast/Journalism. As a working mom, she knows first hand the daily challenges many moms face. Through her blog, “Modern Working Momma.com”, she offers advice, reviews and real life for other working moms out there. She can be via email for promotions, story ideas, etc. via email at modernworkingmomma@gmail.com.

Would you says his product lived up to it’s name, & is hydrating? I’m looking for a non-matte, finely milled powder to set my bb cream with. I don’t need it to have much coverage, & I hate the matte look on myself. My fav powderright now is MAC MSFN, &. I’ve tried tons lol, I’m super picky. Also, what is your skintone? I’m trying to decide what shade to get, I’m an nc35.

Mac MSFN is amazing! I’m closest to a Mac NC15 most of the time. For a setting powder with a glow I really like Bare Minerals Illuminating Mineral Veil and I also use the Mac Mineral Skinfinish Powder. I’d say the Mac one is better when you want a satiny finish while the Illuminating Mineral Veil will make you glow! Let me know what you decide.